Auxiliary bumper



June 5, 1956 A. P. FERGUESON AUXILIARY BUMPER 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledOct. 25,

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United States Patent AUXILIARY BUMPER Arthur Pierce Fergueson,Huntington Woods, Mich., as-

signor to Houdaille Industries, Inc., a corporation of MichiganApplication October 25, 1950, Serial No. 192,112

8 Claims. (Cl. 293-71) The present invention relates in general toautomobile bumpers and more particularly to an auxiliary bumper orbuffer for sheet metal bumpers.

Sheet metal automobile bumpers, for reasons of economy, are usually madefrom relatively low carbon steel which has a low resistance to dentingand when subjected to an impact with or by an object and especially asharp or small area object often become permanently deformed and dented,and thus unsightly.

' To circumvent this problem, the present invention provides ahorizontally disposed generally contour-conforming auxiliary bumper madeof suitable hard resilient material, such as spring steel or any othersuitable grade of dent-resisting steel. The horizontally disposedauxiliary bumper is positioned protectively on the main bumper in thevital contact areas where denting most frequently occurs.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the bumpers can nowbe made of thinner material, since the impacts will be protectivelyabsorbed by the auxiliary bumper, thereby enabling a more economicalbumper construction without sacrificing durability and attractiveness inappearance.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide ahorizontally disposed auxiliary bumper for relatively thin sheet metalbumpers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a horizontallydisposed impact absorbing auxiliary bumper strip or bar to preventdenting and permanent deformation of sheet metal bumpers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bumper assemblyeconomical to manufacture, but of greatly increased durability andwithout sacrificing appearance.

A feature of the present invention resides in a horizontally disposedauxiliary bumper secured to a main wide sheet metal bumper.

Another feature of the present invention resides-in a resilient memberto absorb impacts on the buffer member of an auxiliary bumper assembly.

- Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbe readily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary outer face elevational view ofa wide sheetmetal wrap-around type bumper having secured thereto an auxiliary bumperaccording to the present invention;

. Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational'view of the bumper assemblyshown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view takensubstantially along the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, butshowingamodification;

Figure 5 is another similar sectional view showing a furthermodification; .Figure 6 is an additional similar sectional view showinstill another modification;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary outer face elevational view of a furthermodified bumper and auxiliary bumper assemy;

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the bumper assemblyshown in Fig, 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline X-X of Fig. 9; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the lineXIXI of Fig. 7.

A sheet metal bumper 10 utilizing the present invention may be of thecurrently popular fairly massive appearing wrap-around type ofsubstantial width and of outwardly bowed-cross section. Such a bumpermay have various alternative design contours, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5and 6.

The form of the bumper 10 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is of the typehaving substantially semi-circular cross section wherein the maximumoutward bulge will occur at about the vertical central portion thereof.In the bumper modifications 10a, 10b and 100, Figs. 4, 5 and 6, thecross section is more elliptical in shape wherein the maximum extent ofthe bulge will be nearer one margin, as for example at the lowermarginal portion thereof. It is to be noted that the bulge or protrusionmay also be at the upper marginal portion thereof by simply upending theforms shown. The usual vertically disposed bumper guards 11 are carriedby the bumper 10 and are secured between the ends of the bumper in anysuitable manner.

In accordance with the invention, for absorbing impacts in the vitaloutwardly bulging contact areas, where denting of the bumper 10 mostfrequently occurs, a horizontally disposed auxiliary bumper 12 is hereinprovided secured to the bumper 10 and having a contour conforming to thelongitudinal or horizontal contour of the bumper 10.

The contour conforming auxiliary bumper 12 is placed in an outwardlyprojecting position relative to the bulge of the bumper to absorbimpacts thereby avoiding denting and permanent deformation of thebumper.

For providing an impact contact surface for the auxiliary bumper 12, abuffer member 13 is provided which is made of hard resilient material,such as spring steel or other suitable dent-resisting material, andprotrudes outward of the normal contour of the bumper 10 throughoutsubstantially the whole length of the latter, thereby pre.-.

venting denting and permanent deformation of the bumper 10 in thoseportions not protected by the bumper guards 11. Various alternate shapesmay be provided for the buffer member 13 to accommodate variousrequirements or preferences, as identified by the reference numerals13a, 13b and (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). In each instance, the buffer member 13has a longitudinal contour conforming to the contour of the associatedbumper 10. As noted in the buffer member 13, the cross sectional areathereof is substantially semielliptical, and whereas the buffer members13a and 13b have relatively wide fiat surface contact areas. In buffermember 13c, the cross sectional area thereof is more massive andsubstantially semicircular.

In order to provide an impact absorber for the butter member 13 and forpreventing contact between the hardmaterial buffer 13 and the relativelysofter-material bumper 19, a cushioning member 14 is provided. Thecushioning member 14 which is made of suitable resilient material suchas rubber, and has protruding edge portions 14a extending at oppositesides thereof to prevent the buffer member 13 from contacting therelatively softer metal bumper 10. Therefore, regardless of the direc-'14a are constructedto conform to the shape of the seating surface'ofthebuffer member 13. t

For seating the auxiliary bumper assembly 12, a recess 15 is provided inthe bumper 10. The recess 15 is" also provided for "facilitating the.mounting ofthe auxiliary bumper- 12," as well its-preventing transversedisplacement of the same.

Various shapes are provided forthe recess 15; as shown by recesses 15a,15b and 156. The recess 15'may be a substantially deep'verticalindentation for -suitably seating a massive buffer member, and whereinthe recesses 15b and 150 may besubstantially narrow indentations therebyenabling the butferrnember to be suitably seated, When'positioned at anangle.

In the modification of Fig. 5, the'auxiliary bumper buffer 13b isconstructed to further aid the impact absorption by havinganadditionalresilient eifect. The recess 151) may be substantiallysinuous in shape'to pro vide deeply seated end portions thereby reducinglateral displacement. Conforming to the shape of the recess 15b is thecushioning member 14. Recess 16 is provided in the buffer member 13 tofurther improve the impact absorption of the auxiliary bumper 12 bypermitting resilient movement or the buffer member 1311 beforecontacting the cushioning member.

Suitable means are provided for securing the buffer member 13, and thecushioning member 14 to the bumper 10. In the present instance, clampingmeans in the form of bolts 17 are provided at suitable intervals and atleast adjacent the ends of the buffer 13. has a stem portion lsextendingthrough an aperture 19 of the buffer member'13, an aperture 20 of thecushioning member 14 and an aperture 21 ofthe bumper 10. A nut 22 isthreaded onto the threaded portion 23 for tightly securing the auxiliarybumperassembly 12 to the bumper.

Referring now to'Figures 7-10, for preventingdents and permanentdeformation of a sheet metal bumper 24 by absorbing an impact, a moreeconomical construction for a horizontally disposed contour conformingauxiliary bumper assembly 25 is herein'provided in addition to thevertically disposed bumper guard 24a. The auxiliary bumper assembly 25comprises a buffer member 26 made of suitable hard resilient materialsuch as spring steel or other suitable grade steel or alloy'or rodstock; The

buffer member 26 is mounted to extend peripherally be-' yond the maximumbulge ofthe bumper contour in the. vital contact areas where dentingmost frequently occurs.

In order to facilitate mounting of the auxiliary bumper assembly 25 andto seat the 'roundrod'shaped butter member 26, a horizontal recess 27 isprovided in or adjacent the bulge in the bumper24. The recess'2'7 isshaped to conform to the horizontal'contour of the buffer member 26 andpreventsdransverse displacment of the buffer member 26.

For mounting the buffer member 26 on the bumper 24, one or both endportions of the buffer member 26 have an annular groove 28 wherein isfitted a flange 29 forming one end of a retaining bar or clamp member30. A portion 31 of the retaining bar adjacent the flange 29'abutsagainst an annular head or shoulder 32 of the buffer member 26 toprovide securing surface. The flange 29 prevents excessive longitudinaldisplacement of the buffer member 26. At the end opposite the flange 29,an inturned abutment flange portion 33 of the mounting bar 30 abutsagainst the bumper 24.

To tightly secure the mounting bar 30 to the bumper 24, a threaded stud34 is permanently secured to the inner side of the mounting bar 30in asuitable manner, such as welding. The stud 34 is received through alongitudinally elongated aperture 35 in the bumper 24. A nut. 36 isthreaded onto the stem of the stud and abuts against the bumper 24 todraw the bar 31 clampingly against the end portion of the buffer.

It will be understood that modifications and variations Each bolt may beefiected without departing from the scope of the novel conceptsaof .thepresent inventionp I claim as my invention:

1. In a bumper assembly, a sheet metal bumper having a recessed area inthe vital contact areas thereof, a butter member in said recessed areaand extending outward of the normal contour of said bumper for absorbingimpact, a resilient member positioned in said recessed area between saidbuifer member and said bumper for cushioning said buffer member tocushionimpact, and means secur' ing said butier member and saidresilient member to said bumper member in the recessed area.

2. In a bumper assembly, a sheet metal bumper having a recessed areaat-the vital contact area, a buffer member in said recessed area andextending outward of the normal contour of said bumper for absorbingimpact, a resilient member positioned in said recessed area between saidbutler member and said bumper for cushioning said buffer member,projecting portions on said resilient member extending over theseatingend portions of said bufl'er member for still further cushioning-saidbuffer member, andmeans-securing saidbuffer member and said resilientmember tosaid bumper in the recessed area.

3. In a bumper assembly, a sheet metal bumper having a recessed areaatthe vital contact areas, a bufier member in said recessed area extendingoutward of the normal contour of said bumper for absorbing an impact, aresilient' member seated in said recessed area between'said buttermember andsaidbumper for cushioning said butfer member to further absorbimpact, said buffer member being recessed at the inner surface thereofto provide a space between said resilient member and said butter memberfor still further cushioning of impact, and means securing said-butfermember and said resilient member to said bumper member in the recessedarea- 4. In a bumper assembly, a sheet metal bumper having a recessedarea at'the vital contact areas, a butter member in said recessed areaand extending outward of the normal contour of said bumper for absorbingimpact, a resilient member seated in-said recessed area between saidbuffer member and said bumper for cushioning said buffer member tofurther absorb an impact, said recessed area having an irregularlycurved surface for preventing.

lateral movement of said buffer member, and means securing said buttermember and-said resilient member to said-bumper in the recessed area.

5. Ina bumper assembly, a sheet metal bumper having a recessed area atthe vital contact areas, a buffer member in saidrecessed area andextending outward of the normal contour of said bumper for absorbingimpact,

aresilientmember' seated in said recessed area between said buffermember and said bumper for cushioning said buffer member tofurtherabsorb an impact, said buffer member being-recessed at the inner surfacethereof to provide a space between said resilient member and saidbuffer-member for-further cushioning of an impact, said bumperrecessedarea having an irregularly curved surface for preventing lateralmovement'of said buffer member, and means securing said buffer memberand said resilient member to-said bumper member in the bumper recessedarea for preventing denting and permanent deformation to said 'bumper.

6. In combination in an automobile bumper construction, a bumper body ofelongated form and substantial vertical width, said body comprising asheet material of inherently low resistance to denting by impactthereagainst offairly sharp objects, said body being of transverselyoutwardly bulging contour, the maximum bulging areaof the body havingtherein a longitudinal groove definedbyupper and'lower spaced shoulders,a buffermemberofblongated form and comprisinga hard material ofinherently high resistance to denting on impact;

said. buffer member having a rounded-external hard impact surface, meanssecuring said buffer member in said groovewith'the upper and lower sidesof the buffer member opposed by said shoulders, the hard rounded impactsurface of said bufier member projecting substantially beyond themaximum bulging portion of said bumper body to receive thereagainstimpact of objects driving against said bumper in service, and a thinstrip of resilient cushioning material between said buffer member andthe bottom of said groove and having the edge portions of the cushioningstrip extending between the upper and lower sides of the buffer memberand said shoulders.

7. In combination in an automobile bumper construction, a bumper body ofelongated form and substantial vertical width, said body comprising asheet material of inherently low resistance to denting by impactthereagainst of fairly sharp objects, said body being of transverselyoutwardly bulging contour, the maximum bulging area of the body havingtherein a longitudinal groove defined by upper and lower spacedshoulders, a buffer member of elongated form and comprising a hardmaterial of inherently high resistance to denting on impact, said buffermember having external hard impact surface, means securing said buffermember in said groove with the upper and lower sides of the buttermember opposed by saidshoulders, the hard impact surface of said bufiermember projecting substantially beyond the maximum bulging portion ofsaid bumper body to receive thereagainst impact of objects drivingagainst said bumper in service, and a thin strip of resilient cushioningmaterial between said buffer member and the bottom of said groove andhaving the edge portions of the cushioning strip extending between theupper and lower sides of the bufier member and said shoulders.

8. In a vehicle bumper assembly, a sheet metal bumper having a recessedarea in the vital contact portion thereof comprising'spaced parallelgrooves with an intermediate outwardly bulging portion therebetween, abuffer member in said recessed area and extending outward of the normalcontour of the bumper for absorbing impact, said buffer member having achannel-shaped inner face with marginal portions projecting to the rearof the buffer and extending into said grooves with the outwardly projecting portion of the bumper between the grooves projecting into thechannel in the bulfer member, a resilient cushioning member positionedin said recessed area between said bufier member and said bumper andincluding said grooves for cushioning said bufier member to cushionimpact, and means securing said buffer member and said resilient memberto said bumper member in the recessed area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,754,112 Lusse Apr. 8, 1930 1,937,197 Halladay Nov. 28, 1933 2,054,838Short Sept. 22, 1936 2,144,167 Sanders Jan. 17, 1939 2,531,967 BishopNov. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,141 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1948

